Posted on 04/10/2020 8:35:45 AM PDT by chicagolady
DESTINY CHURCH SERVICE CONSIDERED UNLAWFUL DESTINY CHURCH SPRINGFIELD·THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2020·3 MINUTES Destiny Church in Springfield, IL has willingly held all church services online. However, for Easter we wanted to have a special parking lot service, just like the old drive in theater where no one got out of their cars. People were more than excited. But only 5 days before Easter, on Tuesday, April 7, 2020, Mr. Bill Dart of the Sangamon County Department of Public health informed us that Destiny’s, “Easter Sunday, Drive-in Parking Lot Church Service” was in violation of Governor Pritzker’s Executive Order. I told Mr. Dart that I strongly disagreed as I had thoroughly examined the Executive Order for myself. I then immediately emailed the Sangamon County Sheriff, Jack Campbell, stating that I needed his understanding of the Governor’s Executive Order; paragraph 12C, where it clearly states that “organizations that provide charitable and social services”are exempt. In the interim I consulted with two, nationally known, Constitutional lawyers who totally agree with us; that we are clearly within our rights to assemble yet stay in our cars. However, late on Wednesday (4 days before Easter), April 8, 2020, Sheriff Jack Campbell responded to my email with a phone call. He informed me that he believes the church would be in violation. We had a very civil conversation for 15 minutes where he made his position clear. I disagreed, and then clearly stated our position. We both are considerate of each other’s dilemma. We believe the safety measures we put in place far exceed the CDC social distancing standards. Pastors would wear masks and gloves, no one would exit their car and the 1-hour service would be broadcast to their car radio. Even the cars would be more than 6 feet part. We even had food to distribute to those who have been affected by the Executive Order. I informed the Sheriff that today I had gone to both, Menards and Walmart. There were 100’s of cars, people walking around without masks, touching everything, exchanging/touching money etc… I expressed my utter distaste that the church (of which the government shall not regulate) has been marginalized as non-essential to our community. I told him that the church is clearly an “essential service” to the community and to deem pot dispensaries and liquor stores essential while in the same breath say the Church isn’t, is not only saddening, it is maddening. Florida, Michigan, New Mexico, Delaware, Ohio, Texas, West Virginia and other states have all decreed that church services may proceed and are indeed essential. However, even though we strongly believe the Body of Christ in Illinois is being unfairly targeted by this Executive Order. We will comply, for now. Sheriff Campbell was very polite, professional, understanding and even sympathetic. Together we are praying for a quick resolution to these oppressive restrictions slated to end on April 30th. Sincerely, Rev., Dr. Eric A. Hansen
Happy and Blessed Easter
“In NJ, a family attended a funeral for one of its members.
Of the 12, more than half became ill and four family members died.
Because of the ChiCom Virus. They did not know. We do now.”
Do you have a link to a story about this. Just posting leaves one to suspect fake news.
The tyrants are being exposed. They’re trying to assert authority over the Church.
As we’re seeing the virus numbers flatten, we can treat it better, we can wear masks, and distance from each other...this goes from an “emergency” to “flu like” very quickly. This is already, quite clearly, an unlawful order. Patience for this nonsense is going to be short lived.
” We will comply, for now. Sheriff Campbell was very polite, professional, understanding and even sympathetic”
They often are when cowards comply.
Google “Jesus, moneychangers, temple”.
SO what dos that have to do with people inside their car, listening on the radio to the preacher they can see on a distant stage who is wearing a mask? And remember, the CARS were even parked 6 feet apart.
+1
As one of my favorite FReepers, that is indeed a compliment.
Have a great Easter.
Paragraphs?
The whole reason for the social distancing and the business shutdowns and the rules and all that was not to keep people from catching COVID19. It was to slow down the rate of infection so that the medical community doesn’t get overwhelmed. If the medical community is able to absorb new cases without becoming overwhelmed, which will be a localized evaluation, not at the state or national level, we don’t need all these restrictions in place.
Forget it. We are as polarized here as everywhere. “I have my opinion, and you’re not gonna change it!”
“For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
- Matthew 18:20
Means something to some here and there...
Same to you senor!
Have you not read how they will all stay in their cars which would be six feet from each other.
That is hardly huddling and dying in bunches.
We are continuing to meet. It is currently against the law in our state. We are being wise about social distancing. Folks at our small church are much safer at church than they are at the grocery store. We believe the scriptural injunction to meet trumps the governor’s order.
Call us what you will, we are being obedient to the Bible.
Thank you for your viewpoint. That was refreshing.
A church that complies with government orders contrary to the Scriptures has another head than Jesus Christ.
Ramadan will be starting soon. We will see what happens.
Talk about a giant lawsuit...
If they lose control of the free minded religious people who are the most productive tax producers, they lose hope of winning the revolution for they surely won’t control the nonreligious non taxpaying layabouts who will stampede like mad when the ebt’s go empty.
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